TO BAN OR NOT TO BAN?

THE SHRINK · Jul 23, 2003

I believe we have banned too many posters recently, and the pendulum appears to be swinging in that direction...

We SAY we are a believer in FREE SPEECH, yet our tolerance level has declined in recent months...

Posters are the bloodline to our success. Without them, sports book don't make money and we have no forum. They should be given ample WARNINGS before we ban them, and I don't believe we do a good enough job of this at this...

We also should remember that some of us drink and party before we post and then we make a fool of ourselves. I know I have done that before as have others...

I do believe the answer as to how tolerant we should be falls somewhere in between what I think and what some of our mods and you guys think...

I tend to be too soft and I think others may be too hard...

Remember that everyone makes mistakes and if we can give a poster a cooling down period before banning, I think this is the best way to go...

Banning should only be a last resort, but I'd love to hear what some others think on this issue...

Thanks,

THE SHRINK

Dante · Jul 23, 2003

Ken. As you know banning IMO is a LAST and final resort . BUT if its a first time ban I think it should be automatically only for 1-2 weeks. This poster should be contacted and given another chance. I will only Mod this way as it is the only way I know how. I am interested in what others think also as I feel at times I am to soft but thats the only way I know. Treat others as they are standing right in front of you. Treat all posters with respect. That is what I try to do ALWAYS

MadCapper · Jul 23, 2003

Dante,

Yoou speak the truth.

-MC

lander · Jul 23, 2003

I think a pretty safe rule of thumb is "if the poster's name is Mr. Kennedy, Vega or Hammy then ban on site" otherwise flip a coin

BigRagu · Jul 23, 2003

Although I agree that Posters are the bloodline to any websites succcess, one must look at what entitles someone to even by considered a Poster. I don't believe that just the act of registering a handle neccessarily makes one a Poster. I would consider someone that contributes to a forum constructively and with information beneficial to others as a poster. Some posters offer comical relief which is harmless and entertaining.

Unfortunately there are going to be others that time to time will use a forum as their own personal platform, whether it's a hidden agenda or a prejudice against an ethnic background. Such material initial illicits equally vulgar replies and in some cases results in fewer new posters. I believe that if not already established the RX must create a set of general guidelines or principle rules, break a rule with an offensive thread or reply and it should be deleted and the poster sent a warning, if he does it again then he should receive a vacation from the site and other posters should be informed of such.

Now I am not talking about eliminating Free Speech but even in a society where Free Speech is a right, we all should understand that some things are offensive and unacceptable, I don't think it would lead to bland or boring threads but just the opposite, with less flaming maybe the important and imformative material will finally make it to the top.

Just my opinion

Ragu

THE SHRINK · Jul 23, 2003

EXCELLENT POST RAGU!!!

THANKS FOR SHARING...

lander · Jul 23, 2003

Great post Ragu

Anyone else notice when there's an important topic it's always the Canadian posters that provide the insightful posts?

Journeyman · Jul 23, 2003

Banning a poster temporarily such as SPIVE/Simple Game can cost the site a good poster, perhaps the moderators should try to email with a warning first...Or even a warning on the forum. Sometimes perhaps a poster doesn`t know how close he is to getting banned...this way they won`t go over to the minor league sites and whine...

Freddog30 · Jul 23, 2003

Make a penalty box!! Put them on cool mode for a day or two while they chill out...

RPM · Jul 23, 2003

that would be cool fred!~

Journeyman · Jul 23, 2003

We could have "Penalty Box" where can can throw beer and peanuts at them.

Recent 'penalty box' would have looked like this...

SPIVE

BTJ

Peep

JJ GOLD

Hamnegger

dog bowels

thats some serious contributions in that box.

TheGeneral+ · Jul 23, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR> "Penalty Box"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A room for banned posters only. Interesting thought. Maybe not feasible, but a pretty neat thought.

Stephen · Jul 23, 2003

I'm a strong believer in free speech, too. But I draw the line when someone threatens your life and spreads vicious lies about you in an attempt to start a smear campaign. In the '50s this was called McCarthyism. This shouldn't be allowed in any public posting forum.

vegasguy39 · Jul 23, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR>Originally posted by BigRagu:
Some posters offer comical relief which is harmless and entertaining.

Ragu<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here is my breakdown ratio for visiting this site.

Entertainment - 99%

Gambling - 1%

I get very pissed when your mods ban the entertainers and hold on to the Racist Bastards and Frauds.

There, I just let out some steam. And if your mods don't like it, they can go ahead and ban me.

Peace

BigRagu · Jul 23, 2003

Vegas...I agree and believe that was the point I was trying to make, it seems more times than not that I will read a thread which seems informative but then it goes off on a tangent with racist or repetive remarks on how a book that someone took a shot at took their money. It gets old fast and deters others from hanging around I believe.

Later

Ragu

buddyboy · Jul 23, 2003

3 strikes and you're out

strike one: 24 hour suspension

strike two: 72 hours

Strike three: the poster just can't learn... give them the "Pete Rose" lifetime ban.

jjgold · Jul 23, 2003

Some moderators have let the job go to their head. I do not know why, they feel like big men banning someone,ect. When a mod starts with me, I basically tell him to fuk off and I continue to march to The Golden Tunes. Free speach it should be period. If you are going to cry and all that on lousy posts get lost.

jjgold · Jul 23, 2003

I only report to Kenny period could care less what anyone else thinks. If he tells me to jump off a bridge I will do it.

GACS · Jul 23, 2003

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote">quote:<HR> 3 strikes and you're out

strike one: 24 hour suspension

strike two: 72 hours

Strike three: the poster just can't learn... give them the "Pete Rose" lifetime ban. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Like that idea.

Dante · Jul 23, 2003

JJ

I have never seen a mod tell you to **** OFF we give you alot of leway and patience

Big ragu..you are nominated for poster of the week contest with GA with that post...